Penske Drivers Take Top 3 Spots In Belle Isle Qualifying

NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

DETROIT (AP) — Simon Pagenaud has won the pole for this weekend's first IndyCar race at Belle Isle as Team Penske swept the top three spots in qualifying Friday.

Helio Castroneves was second and Juan Pablo Montoya qualified third. It was Pagenaud's third pole of the season and fifth of his career.

Pagenaud, the series points leader, has finished first or second in every race this year — with the exception of last weekend's Indianapolis 500, when he was 19th.

Castroneves set a track record in the second round of qualifying with a lap of 1 minute, 14.6899 seconds. But he was second to Pagenaud in the final round. Pagenaud took the pole with a time of 1:14.9166.

Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi was 17th out of 22 cars in qualifying.

There are races Saturday and Sunday at Belle Isle. Qualifying for the second race is Sunday.